Bozoma Saint Johns illustriousresumeis full of important and diversified titles.
But she found herself right back in, essentially, the C-suite.
[Its] the same political dynamics.
Eve By Boz
Its like, this one likes this one, this one doesnt really like that one.
Theres a challenge or a situation.
There needs to be a solution.
Griffin Nagel/Bravo
It needs to be dealt with immediately before it becomes a bigger problem.
All of those dynamics exist, and I was completely shocked by that.
For Saint John, the opportunity to join the show came at the perfect time.
She launched a wig and hair brand,Eve By Boz, and was focusing on a new chapter.
WhenHousewivescame calling, it felt like an opportunity to show a different side of herselfand of women writ large.
Were all in our late 40s and 50s, she says of herself and the other housewives.
Its such a specific time in life.
I just dont know that we should hide who we are at this moment.
Why did you decide this next act should include reality TV?
Representation is sometimes a badge of honor and a burden at the same time.
I have to represent the Black girls in lots of rooms.
If I fail, then all of a sudden its the failure of everybody around me, right?
You dont see the soft moments.
You dont see me cook, you dont see me in a relationship.
Thats not a side that people have seen.
So Im excited to fill out the corners of me people havent seen.
RHOBHis in its 14th season and has evolved a lot over the years.
What do you find interesting about joining the show at this moment in time?
True, I didnt even think about that.
It certainly is true for me.
I couldnt think of a better scenario to showcase my own inflection point.
Also, Ive been a widow for almost 11 years, and Im transitioning into finding love again.
Ive been a single mother.
And meanwhile, Im like,Ooh, am I done creating a family?
Should I take another crack?
What surprised you the most when you started filming?
I definitely was surprised by the depth of the relationshipsall of them have very long relationships.
I was surprised by the depth of their friendships and conflicts.
This is certainly not made for TV.
Thats interesting, because I think fans sometimes wonder if the fightsarejust made up for TV.
It is surprising to me.
How do people fall in love so quickly on TV or want to get married?
I would never get married to somebody I met for three weeks.
Girl, come see me after four weeks of filming.
Im like, oh, these are my besties.
Because its so intense.
The conversations were having are deep.
Theres no fluff conversations.
If there are, it always leads to something deeper.
I found myself confessing things to these women….
I dont know that Ive had the depth of those conversations with some of my real friends.
And youre doing that on a very frequent basis.
So what youre saying is the next step is youre going onLove Is Blind.
God might hear you.
Ill take that as a maybe (JK).
What do you think fans should be most excited about for season 14?
Its hair and hair care for Black women and women of color specifically.
I want to disrupt that industry.
And so my hair is slaying all throughout the show.
Lets talk about Eve By Boz.
What made you want to get into the hair industry?
I wore a big, curly afro.
These are real laws that were still fighting.
Youve had such a successful career.
I think the only advice that I have to give is always that you have to listen to yourself.
Its not even hidden.
Its really quite obvious, and no one can give you advice.
They havent lived your life.
Theyre not in your shoes.
Theres no one who knows better about your destiny than you do.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
